III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 171 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should submit to 

Congress a report on the time frame for the withdrawal of United 

States troops from Iraq. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 14, 2005 

Mr. FEINGOLD submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should 

submit to Congress a report on the time frame for the 

withdrawal of United States troops from Iraq. 

Whereas United States forces in Iraq have served with courage and distinction and they and their families deserve 

to know what exactly their mission is and approximately 

how long they may expect to remain in Iraq; 

Whereas establishing time frames for the transfer of sovereignty and for elections in Iraq has resulted in real political and strategic advantages for the United States and 

has advanced the development of democracy in Iraq; 

Whereas establishing a clear time frame for the withdrawal 

of United States troops from Iraq would help to refute 

conspiracy theories and eliminate suspicions that obstruct 
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•SRES 171 IS

the United States policy goals in Iraq and undermine the 

legitimacy of the Government of Iraq; 

Whereas President George W. Bush stated on April 13, 2004 

that ‘‘as a proud and independent people, Iraqis do not 

support an indefinite occupation and neither does America’’ and that United States troops will remain in Iraq 

‘‘as long as necessary and not one day more’’; 

Whereas a sound strategic plan for United States military operations in Iraq would include information regarding the 

numbers of Iraqi troops that must be effectively trained 

and the amount of time that will be required to train 

them; 

Whereas the President has declined to set out specific goals 

for the United States military operations in Iraq or a 

clear time frame for achieving such goals; 

Whereas a clear plan and time frame for United States military operations in Iraq would facilitate more responsible 

budgeting for the costs of United States operations in 

Iraq; and 

Whereas confusion about the United States mission in Iraq 

does not serve the United States vital interests in establishing stability in Iraq or fighting the terrorist networks 

that continue to threaten the United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) the Senate— 

3 (A) supports the men and women of the 

4 Armed Forces of the United States in Iraq and 

5 deeply appreciates their admirable service; and 
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1 (B) recognizes that stability, democracy, 

2 and respect for the rule of law in Iraq are in 

3 the United States national interest; and 

4 (2) it is the sense of the Senate that— 

5 (A) the United States should remain com6 mitted to providing long-term diplomatic and 

7 political support to the people of Iraq to achieve 

8 stability and democracy; 

9 (B) the United States should work dili10 gently to accelerate the sound and effective 

11 training of Iraqi security forces and to increase 

12 international cooperation in this endeavor so 

13 that the people of Iraq may assume responsi14 bility for their own security; 

15 (C) the United States should continue to 

16 pursue a robust and multi-faceted campaign to 

17 dismantle and defeat international terrorist net18 works in Iraq and around the world; and 

19 (D) not later than 30 days after the date 

20 that the Senate agrees to this resolution, the 

21 President should submit to Congress a report 

22 that describes— 

23 (i) the remaining mission of the 

24 Armed Forces of the United States in 

25 Iraq; 
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•SRES 171 IS

1 (ii) current estimates of the time 

2 frame required for the United States to 

3 achieve that mission, including information 

4 regarding variables that could alter that 

5 time frame; and 

6 (iii) a time frame for the subsequent 

7 withdrawal of United States troops from 

8 Iraq. 

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